Koncz remains Manny Pacquiao’s adviser

MANILA—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao wants to put an end to speculations that he had fired adviser Michael Koncz by confirming that he still is with him and that there has been no change in his functions.

Pacquiao spoke to the Inquirer while leaving the Smart Araneta Coliseum after greeting the NBA superstars, led by his friend Kobe Bryant, who played against the Smart Gilas national team on Sunday.

Pacquiao pointed at Koncz and said “See, he’s here. No problem.”

Koncz boarded the vehicle with Pacquiao as they left the venue where the “Fighter of the Decade” was given a rousing reception with fans chanting “Manny! Manny! Manny! as he strode into the coliseum with ten minutes left in the game.

Koncz himself said he had “a good, short and sweet conversation and right to the point” with Pacquiao.

Koncz said he had asked Pacquiao whether he trusted him and that the fighter replied “of course I do.”

The adviser, who is also regarded as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s link to Pacquiao, said he had talked to Pacquiao about “the people who are making allegations against me and why I believe they are making the allegations.”

Koncz said that Pacquiao plans to “have a little meeting” with him and Pacquiao website handler Timothy James Sladeck who ran the story that Pacquiao had fired Koncz and was very critical of the adviser.

Obviously, Pacquiao wants to settle differences among Team Pacquiao members before he starts his preparations for his third showdown against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Roach’s other bet

Meanwhile, renowned trainer Freddie Roach said Amir Khan could be the next pound-for-pound champion after the Briton knocked out American Zab Judah in the fifth round Saturday night to unify the light welterweight crowns.
Both Pacquiao and Khan are being handled by Roach.

Koncz remains Manny adviser

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

MANILA—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao wants to put an end to speculations that he had fired adviser Michael Koncz by confirming that he still is with him and that there has been no change in his functions.

Pacquiao spoke to the Inquirer while leaving the Smart Araneta Coliseum after greeting the NBA superstars, led by his friend Kobe Bryant, who played against the Smart Gilas national team on Sunday.

Pacquiao pointed at Koncz and said “See, he’s here. No problem.”

Koncz boarded the vehicle with Pacquiao as they left the venue where the “Fighter of the Decade” was given a rousing reception with fans chanting “Manny! Manny! Manny! as he strode into the coliseum with ten minutes left in the game.

Koncz himself said he had “a good, short and sweet conversation and right to the point” with Pacquiao.

Koncz said he had asked Pacquiao whether he trusted him and that the fighter replied “of course I do.”

The adviser, who is also regarded as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s link to Pacquiao, said he had talked to Pacquiao about “the people who are making allegations against me and why I believe they are making the allegations.”

Koncz said that Pacquiao plans to “have a little meeting” with him and Pacquiao website handler Timothy James Sladeck who ran the story that Pacquiao had fired Koncz and was very critical of the adviser.

Obviously, Pacquiao wants to settle differences among Team Pacquiao members before he starts his preparations for his third showdown against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Roach’s other bet

Meanwhile, renowned trainer Freddie Roach said Amir Khan could be the next pound-for-pound champion after the Briton knocked out American Zab Judah in the fifth round Saturday night to unify the light welterweight crowns.

Both Pacquiao and Khan are being handled by Roach.